Fence structure with barbed wire extension

ABSTRACT

A fence structure having a barbed wire extension carried on flexible resilient wire support arms affixed to the top rail of the fence.

United States Patent 1191 Dougherty Nov. 13, 1973 FENCE STRUCTURE WITH BARBED WIRE EXTENSION [76] Inventor: Earle T. Dougherty, 3420 North 71st Ave., Phoenix, Ariz. 85033 221 Filed: July 20,1972

211 App1.No.:273,678

[52 use. 256/11, 256/12 [51 Int. Cl E04h 17/14 [58] Field of Search ..256/2-8,

W 256/ll, 12, 32, 33, 34

[56] References Cited 7 UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,233,230 Hassett 256/32 X 589,943 9/1897 Graham 256/11 697,259 4/1902 Lavely r.

1,201,772 10/1916 Smith....

3,028,147 3/1962 Crumbo 3,439,455 4/1969 Ford 256/11 X Primary Examiner-Dennis L. Taylor Attorney-Herbert E. Haynes, Jr.

[57] ABSTRACT A fence structure having a barbed wire extension carried on flexible resilient wire support arms affixed to the top rail of the fence.

8 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures PATENTEDIIBV13 ran 3771. 767

FENCE STRUCTURE WITII BARBED WIRE EXTENSION BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to fences and more particularly to an improvement in the mounting of a barbed wire extension thereon.

2. Description of the Prior Art Heretofore fence structures having a barbed wire extension mounted thereon for deterring intruders employed a base mounted atop each of the fence posts to which a rigid wire support arm was affixed. Several vertically spaced continuous horizontal rows of barbed wire strands were strung from arm to arm.

Although this type of "prior art structure stopped some intruders, it has proven largely ineffective due to the vertically spaced rows of barbed wire serving as a step ladder in the areas where it is supported on the rigid arm.

Also, erection of the prior art barbed wire extension was time consuming and expensive as it had to be accomplished on the site with special tooling for stretching and securing the wire.

Therefore, a need exists for an improved barbed wire extension which eliminates some of the problems of the prior art.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with the invention an improved barbed vwire extension for fence structures is disclosed which includes elongated resilient flexible wire support arms to which the barbed wire is strung. The flexible arms may be attached in the usual manner to the standard fence posts or may be installed at desired locations on the top rail of the fence.

With the barbed wire extension flexibly mounted as dislosed herein the problem of an intruder using the prior art rigid support arms and the wire adjacent thereto as a step ladder has been eliminated.

In a Preferred Embodiment of the present invention the flexible arms are attached to the opposite ends of the top rail of .a prefabricated fence panel and the barbed wire is strung between the arms. This type of fence panel is fully disclosed in U.S. Pat; No. 2,709,073, entitled FENCE STRUCTURE by thesame inventor. The fence panels as well as discrete segments of the flexible barbed wire extension may be prefabri-v cated to reduce assembly time and tooling that would otherwise be needed on an erection site. With each fence panel having its own discrete segment of barbed wire extension, a coupling ring is employed when the fence is erected to interconnect adjacent extensions and hold the barbed wire at a desired tautness.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention toprovide a new and useful barbed wire extension for fence structures.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a new and useful barbed wire extension for fences which is supported on resilient flexible wire support arms. I 1

Another object of the present invention is to provide a new and useful flexiblebarbed wire extension which may be easily attached to existing fence structures.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a new and useful flexible barbed wire extension for use on a fence panel, all of which may be prefabricated to reduce time and tooling needed at an erection site.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a new and useful flexible barbed wire extension which may be prefabricated in discrete segments that are interconnected to adjacent segments with a coupling ring when the fence is erected to form a unitary structure and to provide tautness of the extension.

The foregoing and other objects of this invention, as well as the invention itself, may be more fully understood when read in conjunction with the following drawing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. is a fragmentary elevational view of a fence structure having the flexible barbed wire extension of the present invention mounted thereon.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the fence structure and the flexible'barbed wire extension and is partially broken away to illustrate the features of the invention. 1 i

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view similar to FIG. 3, and illustrating a modification of the mounting of the flexible barbed wire extension to the fence.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary elevational view of a modified form of mounting the'flexible barbed wireextension.

DESCRIPTION OF TI-IE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring more particularly to the drawings, FIG. 1 illustrates afragmentary view of a fence structure 10, of the type fully disclosed in the hereinbefore referenced US. Patent, which has the barbed wire extension 12 of the present invention installed thereon. As seen best in FIG. 1, and as will hereinafter be described in detail, the barbed wire extension s preferrably made up of a series of interconnected discrete segments 1 3.-

Briefly, the fence structure lo'comprises aseries of prefabricated panels 14' which are assembled to the usual fence'post's 16 suitably 'mounted in the ground surface 17. Each of the fence panels 14 is formed'with a substantially rectangular frame made up of a bottom rail 18, a top rail 19, and a pair of vertically disposed side rails 20 and 21. Each of the'side rails is provided with an upper mounting ring 22 and a lower mounting ring 23 so that one of the panels 14 may be assembled between each pair of posts 16 by simply slipping the rings down over the posts. To prevent unauthorized removal of the panels 14, a cap 24 is bolted 'or otherwise secured to the top of each of the fence posts 16. A suitable wire screen 25 is assembled between the side rails 20 and 21 of each panel 14 is properly tensioned at the factory prior to shipment.

The discrete segments 13 which form the barbed wire extension 12 may also be assembled'and properly tensioned at the factory thus eliminating the need for tensioning tools'and the like at the erection site.

Each of the segments 13 of the barbed wire extension I 12 comprises a pair of wire supporting arms 26 and 28 one of which is mounted on each end of the top rail 19 of the panel 14. One or more auxiliary support arms 30 may be provided at spaced intervals along the top rail 19 as determined by the length of the panel 14.

The arms 26, 28 and 30 are each provided with wire retaining means thereon, which as seen best in FIG. 2, may include a plurality of apertures 32 punched or otherwise formed in spaced increments along the length of the arms. An altenate form of wire retaining means is illustrated in FIG. to include notches 34 formed in opposite side edges of the arms.

Strands of barbed wire 36 are strung between support arms 26 and 28 so as to engage horizontally aligned apertures 32 and are tied off or otherwise suitably secured thereto. The number of vertically spaced horizontally disposed rows of barbed wire 36 is determined by the length of the arms and the desired spacing between the rows.

The arms 26, 28 and 30 are preferrably fabricated of flat stock material which has the ability to flex and is resilient, such a material being, for example, spring steel.

As seen in FIG. 3 the arms are mounted on the top rail 19 so that the path through which they are most easily flexed is transverse with respect to the line of the fence structure 10.

With the flexure path of the arms 26, 28 and 30 oriented as described, the extension 12 will present a wobbly structure over which in intruder will find it very difficult if not impossible to climb.

As hereinbefore mentioned, proper tension or tautness of the barbed wire strands 36 is pre-set at the factory. To accomplish the desired degree of tautness it is assumed that the support arms 26 and 28 will be in a substantially vertically disposed position. However, the weight of the strands 36 will tend to pull the arms toward each other as shown in dotted lines in FIG. 2. To correct this problem and also assure that the segments 13 will flex as a single body, an inverted keyhold shaped notch 38 is formed on the upper end of the support arms 26 and 28. After the fence structure has been erected as hereinbefore described, adjacent arms 26 and 28 of adjacent segments 13 are pulled to an upright position and an elongated oval-shaped ring 40 is dropped into the notches 38.

It should be understood that the notches 38 and rings 40 are shown and described as the preferred embodiment, and that-other devices such as a'circular-band (not shown) placed over the adjacent arms so as to circumscribe the arms would serve as a functional equivalent.

The arms 26, 28 and 30 may be mounted to the top rail 19 in any of the several convenient manners.

As seen in FIG. 2, one means of mounting the arms vis provided by forming a slot 42 in the upper surface of the top rail 19. The slot 42 is formed with a length dimension which is slightly smaller than the reduced width dimension of the lower portion of the arm so that driving the arm into the slot will deform the material of the arm to accomplish an interference fit therebetween. A notch 44 is formed a predetermined distance from the bottom of the arms to limit the extent to which they may be driven into the fence structure.

Another mounting means is "illustrated in FIG. 3 wherein the arm is welded to the top surface of the top rail 19.

A third method of mounting the arms 26, 28 and 30 to the fence structure 10 is to weld or otherwise secure a semicircular clamp 46 to the lower end of the arm and bolt the clamp to the top rail 19 as seen in FIG. 4.

Thebarbed wire extension 12 of the present invention may be installed on a fence structure 48 (FIGs. 5 and 6) of the type having a continuous top rail 40 which is supported at spaced intervals by conventional support arm bases 52 mounted on the upper ends of the usual fence posts 54. The bases 52 are provided with upwardly extending cradles 56 each having an interior or female surface formed of a horizontal surface 58 having a pair of angularly upwardly extending surface 60 formed to extend from the opposite ends of the surface 58.

The barbed wire extension 12 of this embodiment is a modified configuration of that previously described in that it will be a single continuous structure rather than being formed of discrete interconnected segments.

Support arms 62 suitable for use in mounting the extension 12 to the fence 48 are provided with mounting flanges 64 on their lower ends. The flanges are formed with a downwardly facing lower surface 66 from the opposite ends of which angularly upwardly disposed surfaces 68 extend. The surfaces 66 and 68 match the surfaces 58 and 60 of the cradles 56 so that the arms may be positioned to vertically extend from the bases 52 or extend angularly therefrom as shown in dotted lines in FIG. 6. The flanges 64 may be bolted or otherwise secured in the cradles 56.

The support arms 62 are formed with a 90 twist 70 adjacent to the flanges 64 so that the flexure path of the extension 12 will be positioned transverse to the line of the fence as previously described.

While the principles of the invention have now been made clear in illustrated embodiments, there will be immdeiately obvious to those'skilled in the art, many modifications of structure, arrangements, proportions, the elements, materials, and components used in the practice of the invention, and otherwise, which are particularly adapted for specific environments and operation requirements without departing from those principles. The appended claims are therefore intended to cover and embrace any such modifications within the limits only of the true spririt and scope of the invention.

What I claim'is:

l. A prefabricated fence structure with a flexible barbed wire extension comprising:

a. a plurality of spaced apart vertical fence posts;

b. a fence panel mounted between each of said fence posts, each of said fence panels comprising spaced apart vertical end rails connected at their opposite ends with a top rail and a bottom rail and having fencing wire affixed between the rails thereof;

. a barbed wire extension segment mounted to extend upwardly from each of said fence panels to form an end-to-end series of said barbed wire extension segments, each of said barbed wire extension segments comprising a pair of wire support arms each mounted on a different end of the top rail of one of said fence panels and at least one strand of barbed wire attached at its opposite ends to said pair of wire support arms, each of said wire support arms resiliently movable in an arc transverse to the plane of said fence panel; and

d. interconnection means mounted between adjacent ends of each of said barbed wire extensions for applying tension to said segments and coupling them into a unitary structure.

2. A prefabricated fence structure as claimed in claim 1 wherein each of the wire support arms of said barbed wire extension segments is formed of an elongated strip of flat stock material having resilient flexible properties.

3. A prefabricated fence structure as claimed in claim 1 wherein each of the wire support arms of said barbed wire extension segments is provided with a series of apertures positioned in spaced increments along the length thereof.

4. A prefabricated fence structure as claimed in claim 1 wherein each of the wire support arms of said barbed wire extension segments is provided with a series of notches positioned in spaced increments on the opposite side edges thereof.

5. A prefabricated fence structure as claimed in claim 1 wherein means for mounting each of the wire support arms to said fence panels is provided by forming a reduced width lower portion on the wire support arm the upper end of which terminates in a notch formed in at least one of the side edges of the wire support arm, and by forming a slot in the top rail of said fence panel into which the lower portion of the wire support arm is insertable, the length dimension of the slot being less than the width dimension of the lower portion to provide an interference fit between the wire support arm and the top rail of said fence panel.

6. A prefabricated fence structure as claimed in claim 1 wherein said interconnection means is provided by forming the top of each of the wire support arms with an inverted keyhole shaped notch and coupling adjacent wire support arms with a ring member which is inserted into the adjacent notches of the adjacent wire support arms.

7. A barbed wire extension for a fence of the type having a continuous top rail supported at spaced intervals by a fence post, said extension comprising:

a. an extension base mounted atop each of the fence posts;

b. an elongated wire support arm mounted on each of said bases, said arms formed of resilient flexible material and having wire retaining means formed therein at spaced intervals along the length thereof;

c. mounting means formed on the lower end of each of said arms for attaching said arms to said bases and for positioning said arms to resiliently move in an arcuate path transverse to the plane of the fence; and

d. at lease one strand of barbed wire strung from arm to arm and retained thereon by being positioned to engage the wire retaining means of said arms.

8. A barbed wire extension as claimed in claim 7 wherein said wire support arms are formed of flat stock material and said mounting means includes a flange on the lower end of each of said arms and having a ninety degree twist formed therein adjacent to said flange. 

1. A prefabricated fence structure with a flexible barbed wire extension comprising: a. a plurality of spaced apart vertical fence posts; b. a fence panel mounted between each of said fence posts, each of said fence panels comprising spaced apart vertical end rails connected at their opposite ends with a top rail and a bottom rail and having fencing wire affixed between the rails thereof; c. a barbed wire extension segment mounted to extend upwardly from each of said fence panels to form an end-to-end series of said barbed wire extension segments, each of said barbed wire extension segments comprising a pair of wire support arms each mounted on a different end of the top rail of one of said fence panels and at least one strand of barbed wire attached at its opposite ends to said pair of wire support arms, each of said wire support arms resiliently movable in an arc transverse to the plane of said fence panel; and d. interconnection means mounted between adjacent ends of each of said barbed wire extensions for applying tension to said segments and coupling them into a unitary structure.
 2. A prefabricated fence structure as claimed in claim 1 wherein each of the wire support arms of said barbed wire extension segments is formed of an elongated strip of flat stock material having resilient flexible properties.
 3. A prefabricated fence structure as claimed in claim 1 wherein each of the wire support arms of said barbed wire extension segments is provided with a series of apertures positioned in spaced increments along the length thereof.
 4. A prefabricated fence structure as claimed in claim 1 wherein each of the wire support arms of said barbed wire extension segments is provided with a series of notches positioned in spaced increments on the opposite side edges thereof.
 5. A prefabricated fence structure as claimed in claim 1 wherein means for mounting each of the wire support arms to said fence panels is provided by forming a reduced width lower portion on the wire support arm the upper end of which terminates in a notch formed in at least one of the side edges of the wire support arm, and by forming a slot in the top rail of said fence panel into which the lower portion of the wire support arm is insertable, the length dimension of the slot being less than the width dimension of the lower portion to provide an interference fit between the wire support arm and the top rail of said fence panel.
 6. A prefabricated fence structure as claimed in claim 1 wherein said interconnection means is provided by forming the top of each of the wire support arms with an inverted keyhole shaped notch and coupling adjacent wire support arms with a ring member which is inserted into the adjacent notches of the adjacent wire support arms.
 7. A barbed wire extension for a fence of the type having a continuous top rail supported at spaced intervals by a fence post, said extension comprising: a. an extension base mounted atop each of the fence posts; b. an elongated wire support arm mounted on each of said bases, said arms formed of resilient flexible material and having wire retaining means formed therein at spaced intervals along the length thereof; c. mounting means formed on the lower end of each of said arms for attaching said arms to said bases and for positioning said arms to resiliently move in an arcuate path transverse to the plane of the fence; and d. at lease one strand of barbed wire strung from arm to arm and retained thereon by being positioned to engage the wire retaining means of said arms.
 8. A barbed wire extension as claimed in claim 7 wherein said wire support arms are formed of flat stock material and said mounting means includes a flange on the lower end of each of said arms and having a ninety degree twist formed therein adjacent to said flange. 